The New Zealand Rugby Union have launched an investigation after winger Doug Howlett was arrested in London on suspicion of criminal damage.
Howlett, 29, was detained in the early hours of Tuesday morning following an incident outside the Hilton hotel at Heathrow Airport which resulted in damage to two parked cars. He was later bailed.
Howlett, scheduled to join Munster on a two-and-a-half-year contract from January 1st, was among a number of All Blacks players were staying at the hotel as they waited for flights home following their shock defeat to France in the World Cup quarter-final.
New Zealand team manager Darren Shand confirmed Howlett was the only player involved in the incident.
"We are waiting for the police to conclude their inquiries. Once that occurs, we will initiate our own process to look into the incident and related issues," said Shand.
"It is a serious matter and we are concerned that something of this nature has occurred at what is already a disappointing time for the team and for our supporters."
Howlett is among several players to have remained in Europe following New Zealand's worst World Cup performance. He did not play in the quarter-final defeat but scored six tries in three pool matches to overtake Christian Cullen as New Zealand's record try-scorer.
The New Zealand coaches and 17 of the 30-man squad returned home today to a surprisingly positive welcome at Christchurch Airport.
New Zealand dominated international rugby for three years but once again failed on the biggest stage of all. By 2011, when New Zealand host the tournament, it will be 24 years since the All Blacks were last world champions.
Head coach Graham Henry said on his arrival: "We will be scarred for the rest of our lives and I mean that. We will always remember this.
"We went over to bring that cup back. We believe we turned over every stone in preparation to achieve that. That makes you feel disappointed but there is no embarrassment here.
"We are the number one rugby side in the world and we have been for a long time and we still are. It's just that we haven't got that little yellow cup."
